Moura: the future of Fado

Ana Moura, whose riveting interpretation of Portugal’s captivating fado style has won her an international following, brings her soulful voice and intense stage presence to Victoria.

Akin to the blues in its stoic response to suffering and loss, the Portuguese fado is in the midst of a renaissance, and Moura is one of the music’s brightest young stars. Her fourth album, Leva-me aos Fados, is a world music sensation that went triple-platinum in Portugal and reached seventh on Billboard’s Top World Albums chart. She was also nominated in the best artist category in the 2011 Songlines Music Awards (formerly known as BBC Music Awards).

Moura’s rapid ascent to stardom has seen her perform in major concert halls and festivals all over the world and made fans and collaborators of The Rolling Stones and Prince, who traveled to Lisbon to work with her. Her most recent accolade was representing Portugal, at the invitation of Caetano Veloso, to participate on his 70th birthday tribute record, Um Tributo a Caetano Veloso, joining the likes of Chrissie Hynde, Beck, Os Mutantes, Seu Jorge and others.

On her new album Desfado (produced by the multi-Grammy producer Larry Klein – Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeleine Peyroux, Tracy Chapman), Moura stretches her talent beyond the limitations of traditional fado in every area. For the first time she sings in English, as well as her native Portuguese, performing songs written in traditional fado form, as well as songs such as Joni Mitchell’s A Case Of You, which embody the spirit of the Portuguese music, while not being in the traditional sense of the genre.

Victoria’s own Sara Marreiros opens with her strong, expressive voice in a range of musical styles accompanied by bassist Trav Short.

Tickets, $36 or $40 at the door, to An Evening with Ana Moura at the Alix Goolden Hall, on March 5, at 7:30 p.m are available at brownpapertickets.com, Ditch Records, 784 Fort St. and Lyle’s Place, 770 Yates St. For more information go to anamoura.com.pt or threesixtyentertainment.ca.